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RTARY STEAM ENGINE;

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H. F. BENZ. ROTARY STI'BAMIENGINE.

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H. P. BENZ. ROTARY STEAM ENGINE. I No. 586,694. Patented July 20, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()EEIcE.

HERMAN F. RENZ, OF CAN' ON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE NAUMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

ROTARY STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 586,694, dated July 20, 1897. Application filed April 14, 1897. Serial No. 632,190. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN F. RENZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Steam-Engines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings,

to making a part of this specification, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the different parts properly assembled. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through line a: a Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through line y y, Fig. 1. Fig. l is an end view showing the outer cylinder-head removed. Fig. 5 is a detached view of the outer cylinder-head. Fig.

6 is a detached view of the center disk. Fig. '7 is a detached view of the inner disk and its ports. Fig. 8 is a view showing a portion of the cylinder and illustrating the position of the piston-wheel. Figs. 9 and 10 are detached views of the pistons. Fig. 11 is aview showing a portion of the cylinder and illustrating one of the packing-bars and its spring. Fig. 12 is a view showing the relative position of the steam-dividing disk and the inner head 0 or disk and its port or opening.

The present invention has relation to rotary steam-engines; and it consists in the different parts and combination of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out 3 5 in the claims.

Similar numbers of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings,1 represents the base or bed of the engine, which may be constructed of any desired style, reference being had to properly attaching the different parts belonging thereto. The cylinder 2 is preferably located upon one end of the base 5 1 and maybe made separate from the bed and attached by suitable clamping-bolts, or, if desired, it may be formed integral with the bed; but I prefer to make it separate and connect the two parts together. The cylingo der 2 is provided with the elliptical interior 3, within which elliptical interior or opening is located the piston-wheel l, which pistonwheel is securely attached to the power-shaft 5. It will be understood that by forming the elliptical opening 3 and locating the pistonwheel 4 as shown in Figs. 3 and 8 that crescent-shaped chambers will be provided or formed diametrically opposite each other,said crescentshaped chambers being for the purpose hereinafter described.

To the piston wheel l are attached the stepped pistons 6, which pistons are located diametrically opposite each other, as illustrated in the drawings, and are so adjusted that they can move to and from the power shaft 5. The stepped pistons G are each provided with the grooves 7 and S, which grooves extend the entire length of the pistons. From the grooves 7 lead the steam-ports 9, and from the grooves 8 lead the steam-ports 10, said steam-ports 9 and 10 being so arranged that they will convey steam to opposite sides or faces of the pistons 0, said construction being illustrated in Fig. For the purpose of balancing the pistons G steam is admitted into the grooves 7 and S at both ends of said pistons, it being understood that each end of the cylinder 2 is to be provided with like ports, which ports are to be hereinafter described. The cylinder 2 is provided with the steam-chest 8o 11, which SlLGtlll OllGSl] is preferably located upon the upper side of the cylinder 2 and is provided with the valve 12, which valve is adjusted and held in position in the ordinary manner. From the steam-chest 11 extend the inlet-ports 13 and 14. The valve 12 is so arranged that when the handle 15 is in a true Vertical position the inlet-ports 13 and 14c will be closed, and when said handle is turned from a true vertical position it will open one of the inlet-ports, said handle being turned in the direction to open the desired port. Each end of the cylinder 2 is provided with the flanged disks or heads 16, which heads are located against the ends of the piston 5 wheel 4, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The disks or heads 16 are each provided with the inletports 17 and 18, which ports are located and arranged substantially as shown, and, as shown, they form segments of a circle.

This forma- 10o.

tion, however, is not absolutely necessary,

but I prefer to so form the ports. The disks or heads 16 are also provided with the lateral or side flanges 19 and 20, which flanges are located between the inlet-ports 17 and 18, as illustrated in Fig. 7. The flange 19 is for the purpose of receiving the steam-dividing disk 21, which disk is provided with the opening 22, which opening is formed of a size and shape so that it will fit snugly upon the flange 19 when said dividing-disk is placed in its normal position. The flange 20 is for the purpose of holding the dividing-disk 21 a short distance away from the disk or head 16, thereby forming chambers between the disks or heads 16 and the disk 20, said chambers being for the purpose hereinafter described. The disk or head 1.6 is provided with the flange 23, which flange also assists in holding the dividing-disk 21 in proper position and at the same time providing a wider periphery upon the disk or head 16 to fit against the inner surface of the cylinder 2.

For the purpose of preventing pressure against the ends of the piston-wheel 4 the shoulders 24 are provided, which shoulders constitute the ends of the elliptical opening 3. For the purpose of closing the ends of the cylinder 2 the heads 25 are provided, which heads are securely bolted to the cylinder 2, as illustrated in Fig. 1. For the purpose of securely holding the steam-dividing disk 21, upon its flange or collar 19 the lug-bolts 26 are provided, which lug-bolts pass through the heads 25 and their inner ends seated against the outer faces of the dividing-disk 21. The heads 25 are each provided with the screwthreaded extensions 27, upon which screwthreaded extensions are located the nuts 28 and the jam-nuts 29, said jam-nuts being for the purpose of holding the nuts 28 in proper position and preventing their accidental displacement. The heads 25 are each provided with a recess or chamber 30, which chamber is so located that when the heads 25 are placed in proper position upon the cylinder 2 they will come directly opposite to the ends of the inlet-port 15, said chambers 30 being for the purpose of forming steam to enter between the inner faces of the heads 25 and the outer faces of the dividing-disks 21.

The disk or head 16 is provided with the opening 31, formed in the flange 23, which opening 31 is so formed that when said head 16 is placed in proper position it will come directly under the inlet-port 14:, which port opens into the end of the cylinder 2 and is for the purpose of permitting steam to enter between the outer face of the disk or head 16 and the inner face of the dividing-disk 21.

It will be understood thatwhen steam passes through the openings or recesses 30 from the port 15 it will find its way to and through the ports 18, and when steam passes from the port 14 through the opening 31 it will find its way to the inlet-ports 17, or, by reason of the flanges 19 and 20, there will be no communicylinder 2 cation between ports 17 and 18, or, in other words, there will be two independent sets of inlet-ports, which inlet-ports admit steam to the pistons 6.

' WVhen it is desired to have the engine run in the direction indicated by the arrows shown on the piston-wheel in Fig. 3, the port 15 is opened, which allows steam to enter through the ports 18 into the grooves 8 in the pistons 6, and when it is desired to have the engine run in the opposite direction the port let is opened, at which time the steam passes through the inlet-ports 17 and into the grooves 7. As the steam enters the grooves 8 or 7, as the case may be, it forces said pistons away from the center in a radial line until the outer edges of said pistons come in con-tact with the inner face of the elliptical opening It will be understood that steam enters the grooves 7 or 8 at the time said pistons pass the inlet-ports 17 or 18, as the case may be, reference being had to each of said ports so shown, and when the pistons 6 have passed said ports the steam will be cut off, by which arrangement the steam is not taken continuously, but alternately, thereby producing the full power of the steam by permitting it to be used expansively or rather to secure its expansive energies.

For the purpose of providing exhaust the cylinder 2 is provided with the exhaust-ports 32 and 33,which exhaust-ports lead from the to the valve-chambers 34:, which valve-chambers are located diametrically opposite each other, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The valve-chambers 34; are each provided with the valves 35,which valves are provided with the outlet-ports 36, and when it is desired to have the engine run in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3 the port 32 (shown on the right-hand side of Fig. is closed and the corresponding port on the left-hand side is open, which position opens the outlet-port 33 on the right-hand side and closes the outlet-port 33 on the left-hand side, by which arrangement steam is confined after it has passed through the ports 10 until the pistons 6 have passed one of the open outletports 33. It will be understood that by this arrangement live steam is taken twice during each revolution of the piston-wheel and exhausted the same number of times.

l/Vhen it is desired to have the engine run in the opposite direction, the valves 35 are turned so as to open and close the opposite valves 32 and 33. Upon the valve 11 is located the wheel or disk 37, to which wheel are connected the links 38, which links extend downward and their lower ends connected to the disks 39, which disks are connected to the valves 35, the disks 37 and 39 being so timed as to their movement that as the handle or lever 15 is moved in the direction desired it will open and close the proper ports, which include both the inlet and outlet ports.

It will be understood that by my peculiar arrangement I am enabled to construct a ro- IOC IIC

tary engine that will take steam in substantially the same manner as that of a recipro cating engine, thereby overcoming the difficulty of usin a large amount of steam to produce the desired effect, this being accomplished by utilizing the expansion force of steam. For the purpose of preventing any leakage between the two crescent chambers in the cylinder 2 the bars 40 are provided, which bars are seated into proper recesses formed in the cylinder 2 and are held against the periphery of the piston-wheel 4by means of the springs 41. It will be understood that the packing-bars 40 will be forced forward or toward the wheel 4 as they become worn, thereby at all times cutting off the steam between the two crescent-shaped chambers. It will also be understood that by providing the elliptical opening 3 that as the pistons 6 approach the packing-bars 40 they will be forced inward, so that they will be in proper position to pass the packing-bars without any jar. It will also be understood that after the pistons 6 have passed the open inlet-ports 17 or 18, as the case maybe, that no steam-pressure will be exerted upon the inner edges or in the grooves 7 and 8, thereby allowing the free radial movement of said pistons.

In the drawings I have illustrated an engine that its motion can be reversed, but I do not desire to be confined to this particular construction, as it will be understood that when it is desired to construct a rotary enginc not designed to be reversed the piston 6 will require but one groove, which should be located at the point where the groove 8 is located, and that one set of ports, such as 10, will be all that is necessary to provide a oneway-running engine, and that but one set of inlet-ports, such as 18, will be required.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder provided with an elliptical opening, apiston located within the cylinder and within the elliptical opening, said piston-wheel provided with pistons capable of radial movement, and steam-passages located upon the inner edges of the pistons and extended throughout their entire length, and ports leading from the steam-passages in the pistons to the side faces thereof, the disk-heads 16, provided with inlet-ports and the port 15, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of the cylinder 2, provided with an elliptical opening, a pistonwheel located therein, and pistons revolving with said piston-wheel and provided with the grooves 7, and 8, inlet-ports 15, and 14, formed in the cylinder, the disk 16, provided With the opening 31, and the flanges 19, and 20, the dividing-disk 21, spaced from the disks or heads 16, and the heads 25, secured to the ends of the cylinder and provided with the recesses 30, and the ports 17, and 18, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination of a cylinder having an elliptical opening, a pi ston-wheel located within the elliptical opening, pistons revolving with the piston wheel provided with the grooves 7, and 8, ports 9, and 10, opening upon opposite sides of the pistons, heads located adjacent to the ends of the piston-wheel and provided with inlet-ports 17, and 18, and the ports 15, and 14, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination of the cylinder 2, havin g located therein a piston-wheel, pistons revolving with said piston-wheel, impact chambers or grooves located upon the inner edges of the pistons, ports 10, leading from the impact chambers or grooves and opening upon the faces of the pistons, disks or heads located adjacent to the ends of the piston-wheel, and provided with inlet-ports 18, and the opening 31, the port 14, communicating with the opening 31, and the packing-bars 40, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination of the cylinder 2, having located therein the piston-wheel provided with pistons, exhaust-ports 32, and 33, located upon opposite sides of the piston-wheel, impact-chambers formed in the inner edges of the pistons, ports 9, and 10, opening upon opposite sides of each of the pistons, the heads 16, provided with the inlet-ports 17, and 18, and the dividing-disk 21, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony thatl claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

HERMAN F. BENZ.

lVitnesses:

J. A. JEFFERs, GEO. NAUMAN. 

